10 months baby!

This week was a lot better than the last. Not in the sense that all of the hard things disappeared, but I think a few more focused prayers and more hard work makes really all the difference.

As of now, Ariel and Isabel dont look like they will be getting married and baptized. Man what a heart breaker. A great amount of doubts have formed in Isabel for a few things that have happened, and these doubts grew into some pretty sturdy brick walls. She doesnt want to be baptized, doesnt want to go to church, and doesnt want to be the member of any church. She knows that the Book of Mormon is true, she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but just cant get over the flaws of men. Sharing with her my testimony has strengthened my own. Boy what gladness and changes the Book of Mormon has brought to my life. I know, without a doubt that it is the word of God. God has truly talked with me through that book. He´s shown me time and time again what is it that he wants me to do and the person which he wants me to be. After reluctantly praying, she invited us back for tomorrow, so we are praying for miracles. 

We put it all in on the Lord, as its said. We decided to fast as a companionship for the family of Ariel and Isabel, so that we can find new and prepared people to teach and to show our gratitude. We had a great phone call with Ariel that night, and in the 3 hours we were in our area, we found 5 new investigators who accepted the invitation to be baptized. So, back where I´m from, we call that a miracle! I know that God takes care of his goofy little companionship of Elder Fiabane and Elder Johnson.

Oh! So since the other Elders got transfered to barrio 2, I got to go on divisions to see Andrea, our convert. She is doing amazing! We taught about the family, and used the pamphlets. Agustin and Gabriel (the kids) took the pamphlets after seeing mine and had almost their whole family trees filled out before the end of the lesson. It was AMAZING to be able to open to my 4 generation tree and to be able to say that all the work has been carried out in the temple so that one day, we will be an eternal family. What a blessing it is to be in this church and have this knowledge!

Love you all! Stay awesome :)

Elder Johnson

More service for the Canciano family.

Andrea, the family, and our family trees! (Her sister Carolina is going to getting married and baptized!)

The hammock nail thingies broke while I was making calls and Elder Fiabane was swinging me dangerously...

 Elder Fiabane and I in this super huge statue art festival last week

We found a place that almost had burritos!

 Resistencia view

Family and Friends!

This week is going to be a shorty!

The paperwork for Ariel and Isabel is still in a mess. The civil registry here keeps going on and off of strike, and the man that works there doesn't like our church and beliefs, so he isn't making it any easier. It is so sad that people who call themselves Christians treat others so differently than the manner in which Christ would treat his loved people. Something that I really want to improve about myself.

Elder Fiabane and I are companions again! For the fourth transfer in a row, so this will be about 6 months together. We are excited to be able to work together and help Ariel, Isabel, the ward, and the people that are waiting for us in our area. I know if we work hard we will find them.

We went and helped the Canciano family again on Saturday. We found an ant pile taller than me. Probably wasnt the greatest idea to climb on top of it... But am I ever going to find something so great?

We found Sergio in a little neighborhood of chapa houses. His partner wife passed away four months ago and is struggling in all aspects. I just wanted to reach out to him and help him. We taught him how to pray after explaining to him of the plan that God has for him, his wife and his children. It is incredible to see how the spirit works with people. He felt God´s love in front of his little home, and I know that God loves him as one of his children.

Love you all! Stay amazing!

Elder Johnson

Huge ant pile

We tried taking a cute skipping picture like all the sister missionaries do. Didnt really turn out the same....

We got another Elder Johnson in the mission!

Email Home!‏

​This week went quickly just like all the others!

We have probably the craziest landlord on the face of planet earth. We are trying to move out of our pension because, well. It has every problem on the face of planet earth. Including being built on a lagoon of some type. We wondered why the only two houses for sale that we have seen in Resistencia (well, in the central part) are right next door to us. So pray for us that we will make it out alive.

The family follows with tons of excitement for their marriage. There are more paperwork problems, so we will continue being patient and praying. I think one of us is going to be changed this transfer that comes up Tuesday, so the peanut butter and dulce de leche duo, I´m guessing, won´t be together anymore. We´ll see what happens.

One thing I have been really focusing on is just loving. I realized that I still love the people and the other missionaries, but I had lost my focus in it. In loving and trying so hard to be able to understand. It is so great to see the change in the spirit when we love and try to always understand the people. I feel so much closer to my Savior when I do it. I know that as we try to come closer to others through true, unselfish love, we can really understand their needs and desires. I know that God loves us like this. We are so imperfect. I can´t imagine the patience that he has for us, his children here on the earth.

We worked with a few inactive families really closely this week. Especially a family Lugones of a lot of teenagers. It is just great to see the spirit the youth have here. I always thought it was difficult to be a youth of the church back home-- I realize how ungrateful I was. 

I love you all! Thank you for all the love and support!

Elder Johnson

Pics:

I was about to pray, then Elder Ratliff and Elder Carrera decided to tackle Elder Fiabane in the middle bunk. Good thing I got up to take off my socks...

Presidente Franco week 1!‏

What an interesting and exciting week.

We sent one mission president home, received another one, and have just hit the ground running again.

It was a little hard saying goodbye to the Heyman family. Both Presidente and Hermana Heyman have helped me with so many questions, trials, and obstacles that I have seen here throughout my mission. I know one of the reasons that the Lord wanted me in the office at this specific time was to be able to learn from the two of them and work so closely with them. Shipping off Elder Heyman was more fun than anything. When Presidente released him as a missionary, it was the best thing ever to be able to call him Brother Heyman or Taylor. We came to become great friends as well.

The last thing that President shared with us in the airport was to follow the spirit and be sealed in the temple with a great woman that will help us keep gospel standards. Well the first one will take time, and practice. The second will take pure luck with this chubby face haha.

I am excited to be working with the Francos. Presidente Franco is such a spiritual, humble person. Speaking with him makes me just want to be more like my Savior. I cant even imagine the spiritual sensitivity necessary to be a 70 of the church. I have learned so much in these last few days. In my personal interview, the spirit touched me. I am truly doing the work that which the Lord wants me to do. I just know that this is the work of the Lord. He is the head of this church, and I know that he is pleased with the work that I am doing.

Ariel had to stay at work (like 4 hours away) an extra day last week, so he couldnt take out the turns for the marriage. So we are going to be calling them after the siesta to see how they are doing. They are seeing so much opposition right now, but they are just so happy and making incredible changes in their lives. Hopefully we will be seeing a baptism and a marriage this upcoming week!! A few prayers for Ariel, Isabel and the family would be great!!

Well, I´m just up on time. I know that Christ is my Savior. He died for each and every one of us. HIS CHURCH IS RESTORED HERE ON THE EARTH TODAY! It´s his perfect church, directed by imperfect men. It´s important to keep that in mind-- the missionaries arent perfect either :)

Elder Johnson

 President Franco arriving

President and Hermana Heyman with the office elders

Bonus pictures

This is what most of my area looks like!

I found super cheap bubble gum... Mom, youd kill me.

 stuck in my fish tank...

At the Airport

Love all of the mom's begging Pres Heyman to train Pres Franco on using Instagram:)